Meet RIBA, the robot nurse bear.
The cheery-looking machine has long, multi-jointed arms embedded with an array of tactile sensors that help it optimize the lifting and carrying of humans. For safety purposes, RIBA's entire body is covered in a soft skin molded from an advanced lightweight urethane foam developed by TRI. The soft skin is designed to ensure the comfort of patients while they are being carried. In addition, the arm joints yield slightly under pressure -- much like human arms do -- further increasing the level of comfort and safety.Video and more photos at link. RIBA robot nurse bearThe robotic bear can also recognize faces and voices, as well as respond to spoken commands. Using visual and audio data from its surroundings, RIBA can identify co-workers, determine the position of those nearby, and respond flexibly to changes in the immediate environment. The motors operate silently, and a set of omni-directional wheels allow the robot to navigate tight spaces inside hospitals and nursing facilities.
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I would have used this face
http://www.gonemovies.com/www/Drama/Drama/OneFlewRatched2.jpg
With a little modification this cheerful patient-toting bear can be employed by death panels to give the socially valueless a final loving death-squeeze.
That square panel in the chest could waft knockout gas to make the process less painful.
A robotic pedobear?
These would make great Doctor Who monsters.
actually, whats better: the bear or a beleaguered nurse with a soiled lift sling?
Wow. When you're ninety years old and in the throes of senile dementia, the only thing that could possibly make your existence any more terrifying would be the belief that you were being pursued everywhere by a giant blue-and-white robotic polar bear that kept picking you up and putting you places. In your moments of lucidity, you'd know that it couldn't possibly be true ... and yet ... and yet ...
No wonder old people have to wear diapers.
Ben Morris @ 4 - please don't...
Why can I only picture this going on a killing rampage?
http://www.oomu.org/images/museum/ghibli-museum6.jpg
@CANTFIGHTTHEDITE: It is optimized for gentle lifting, carrying, and raep.
#6: A Depends-changing robot with the face of a saber-toothed tiger and six suction cup equipped tentacles is coming soon.
OH MY GOD IT WANTS THE MEAT INSIDE MY BODY I KNOW IT
Oh god it looks like pedobear :(
Doctor Who and the Autons - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10jFdq_0THQ
NOSEHAT:
Going on a rampage life the sci fi thriller Gog??? With Gog and Magog....
Can lift up to 135 lbs. We have babies in the USA that weigh that much!!!!
I think the Army should use these to carry wounded off the battle field.
The enemy would be all like "wtf?" when they saw a hoard of these making their through the chaos.
"What do you mean it folded her?"
"Like a...piece of paper. In half, you know?"
"Sonofa...where is it now?"
"McGillis said he saw it going into ICU. Said it said something about needing to increase ward capacity."
"Shit. Do I like like I need this?"
"Where are you going?"
"There's a fire axe in the stairwell."
"Ah. You going to finish your sandwich?"
"Fuck you, Mendoza. You're coming with me."
@angusm
tyvmft
Its non-blinking eyes are always watching, always judging.
It will gain sentience and kill us all.
I, for one, welcome our new robo-bear etc.
i'd say its in the depths of the uncanny valley, i am guessing some patients swill jump up and run away of their own volition
So it says that it responds to voice commands. Which makes me wonder how long it will take for someone to weaponize it, just by shouting "Pick that guy up!" in a sufficiently firm tone of voice.
My Nursmaid Totorobot.
What angusm said. If that thing comes for me when I'm old, I hope I can still aim a gun. It's got a Caprica 6 brain, fer sure. Snap my neck like a g.d. baby, I tells ya.
Note to the designers of that monster: You better be kidding.
I do have to say, I've seen a lot of nurses and home aids with bad backs from patient transfers, so I can't help but think they might be able to do it better with this. Also, reportedly some male patients seem to feel this is their last chance to get close to a cute nurse, and use it as an opportunity to grope. I also imagine for some there may be a circularity and comfort to having your teddy bear still in your life, but now all grown up and capable of taking care of you.
i would like if it were this bear, then "everythingwasalright".
http://www.andeverythingwasalright.com/
Snig - seconded on nurses and care assistants with wrecked backs... But why anthropomorphize the machine?
Reminds me of this:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/183051/june-13-2007/threatdown---robots
Maximum lift capacity of 135 pounds? Looks like there'll be a few model upgrades between the Japanese and American markets, I think.
This is totally Pedo Bear. The only way it could be more frightening is if it wore a glitter glove on one paw.
Nursing has one of the highest rates of injuries of all occupations and most of them occur when moving patients. This is a step in the right direction.
The question of the anthropomorphize vs. not is kind of a human version of the monkey surrogate mother experiments. Hopefully carried out with more kindness. Modular heads might be best. Though someone will likely do hacks to facilitate the bondage/robot market.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harlow
Also be interesting if they could be used without a care nurse, to make the handicapped more autonomous.
I will also say that the "Uncanny Valley" effect cited explains for me my unease around Mitt Romney. I would be less unsettled by him if he had an animatronic bear head.
New Scientist recently ran a nice image gallery of medical robots:
http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn17700sci-fi-surgery-medical-robots/1
taken from a current exhibition Sci-Fi Surgery: Medical Robots in the Qvist Gallery at the Hunterian Museum- 8 September to 23 December 2009 - in London:
http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums/exhibitions/sci-fi-surgery.
"The exhibition will also feature some famous medical robots from the world of science fiction, from the 1920s ‘Pyschophonic Nurse’, to Japanese Manga (printed cartoons) and Anime (animated films), and Britain’s own 2000AD, and ask whether science fiction reflects fact, or if scientists are inspired by the representation of medical robots in films, books and comics."
Yay! Royal College of Surgeons!
Sure Mark will love the one that pulls itself along your gut with a series of grippers and extenders - looks like a giant botfly.
(But shame the Bloodbot didn't get a nice friendly vampire head)
quite the gallery. Wonder when they will be in use and when the first malfunction will happen?
What a great invention -- besides being useful this robot is actually good looking.
http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/09/taizo-robot-leads-exercises-for-the-elderly/
omg giant robopedobears
Gloomy Bear!
http://c.universalscraps.com/files/en/gloomy.bear/gloomy_bear_045.jpg